White on White – Bb Clarinet & Piano

Description

This piece for clarinet and piano was written for clarinetist David Snyder in February, 2010.The title, White on White, is a double allusion – it refers to the 1918 painting by Kazimir Malevich as well as the characteristic non-vibrato “white tone” of the clarinet. The music of White on White is an exploration of lyricism and organic melodic development. To me, white paint on a white canvas does not represent a void or a lack of substance, but rather a starting point from which the imagination may roam. I essentially grow a melody out of the silent backdrop, utilizing the clarinet’s extremely expressive dynamic capabilities. The piano provides counterpoint in a quasi-passacaglia form, but the lines remain simple and lyrical over somewhat nostalgic harmonies.Includes Piano score and solo Clarinet part.